Augustine's Quinquaginta

Augustine's Quinquaginta
Anton Sorg, 1475
AUGUSTINUS, Aurelius (354-430). Quinquaginta. Augsburg: Anton Sorg, 'circiter' 1 February 1475.

First edition of this collection of Augustine's homilies, and the first book printed by Anton Sorg. Sorg had undoubtedly been the last master of the printing shop at the Augsburg Monastery of SS. Ulrich and Afra; the second type used there became Sorg's type 1. Printing ceased at the monastery on the death of its abbot, Melchior von Stamhaim, on 30 January 1474, and Sorg set up on his own account, producing the Quinquaginta exactly one year later. H 1987*; BMC II 341; BSB-Ink A-901; GW 2916; Bod-inc A-554; Goff A-1298; ISTC ia01298000.

Chancery folio (300 x 209mm). 92 leaves. Red penwork initials, paragraph marks, and capital strokes (dampsoiling and worming, mostly to lower margins and increasing towards the end, final leaf repaired at lower margin and upper inner margin, just touching text with a little loss). Modern sienna morocco (a little surface wear at joints). Provenance: Franz Töpsl (1711-1796, Prior of Polling, diocese of Augsburg, Bavaria; large armorial bookplate dated 1744, engraved by Franz Xaver Jungwierth).